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Message: [QUOTE="BigBird, post: 1993794, member: 4247"] Bags has totally nailed it. The polls that rate colleges are even more shaky and arbitrary as the polls that rate sports teams. Sometimes these rankings are insightful, most times not so much. When selecting a college, it would be useful if the student could find someone who (like Bags) can offer wisdom and experience-driven advice. Knowing what to expect, in both a microscopic and macroscopic view, leads to being comfortable with the chosen school. That comfort leads to a more productive experience. I did academic advising for students entering my field, and I was often surprised by the totally unrealistic expectations and lack of any rational perspective I sometimes witnessed. Here are a couple of suggestions: First, read and comprehend the college catelog for your areas of academic interest. Most colleges put their docs online. Next, make a contact with the person(s) responsible for internships and placement support. They tend to have a very "nuts and bolts" view of their field, with emphasis on what it really takes to build a career. Your ongoing relationship with this person will be very important. Shadowing a friend through their day on campus can be useful too. If their classes are disorganized or grossly overcrowded, odds are yours could be as well. A little extra effort at the front end of the process can save money and wasted effort at the endpoint. [/QUOTE]